Highway marker



Dec. 1o, 1940. T w, S'EDMAN 2,224,554

Filed Jan. 27, 1938 Patented Dec. 10, 1940 rATENT OFFICE HIGHWAY Theodore W. Stedman, New York, N. Y., assigner to Resilient Products Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application `lanuary 27, 1938, Serial No. 187,258

7 Claims.

My invention relates to highway markers.

My invention has reference to a highway marker so constructed and arranged that, when engaged by an automobile wheel, the blade of a snow plow or other heavy objects, the upper marker surface is movable downwardly more or less into flush relation with the highway surface.

Various other objects, advantages and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following description.

My invention resides in the highway markers, features and arrangements of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

l5 For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the various forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing a highway marker as constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts omitted, of a part of the highway marker of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2

looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a protective track or shield for the marker of Figs. 1 and 2.

The highway marker M of my invention comprises an upper wall surface I adapted to be '35 disposed approximately in the plane of the highway H, this upper wall surface I having depending therefrom a circular, Vertical wall 2 which terminates in a lower circular bead section 3 which should have a plurality of members 3a projecting therefrom. As shown in Fig. 1, the wall surface I comprises a centrally disposed, upstanding knob section 4 having on opposite sides thereof the respective marker sections 5, 5, each of which, from said knob section 4, slopes downwardly in a regular manner and merges with the upper face of said wall surface I approximately at the outer peripheral edge of the latter.

50 As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the marker structure preferably comprises oppositely facing channels 6, B which extend in opposite directions, respectively, from the knob section 4, these channels being open at the top and dened by 55l the upper face of the wall surface I, and the more or less vertical sides o-f the knob section 4 and the marker sections 5, 5.

VIn accordance with the invention, the above described marker M may serve as a support for one or more light reiiectors R such, for example, 5 as are well knownv in the art for reflecting the light emanating from automobile head lamps. These light reflectors R may be detachably or otherwise secured to the knob section 4 in any suitable manner, for example, as disclosed in 10 my pending application Serial No. 120,125, iiled January 11, 1937. As herein shown and as more particularly described in said pending application, each reflector R may comprise a glass lens member 'I of suitable color, such lens member l5 vi being disposed in a housing 8 which is suitably secured in a passage 9 of the knob section A by a ring I0, or equivalent, anchored in its intended position during the rubber molding operation. As clearly appears, the passages 9 20 preferably face in opposite directions and, likewise, they are preferablyalined With each other, so that said light reflectors R. are adapted to reflect light in opposite directions along the highway. 25

In accordance with the invention, the upper face of the marker M, and particularly the upper surfaces of the marker sections 5, 5, have suitably, secured the'iieto a plurality Lof track members II which, preferably, are formed from 30 steel. As well shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, each of the track members Il, throughout its length and from end to end thereof, is of sheet metal shaped as a half-round, or equivalent, and each end of each track member II is shaped as a laterally directed flange IIb. Further, each track member II should be provided with a plurality of spaced passages IIc utilizable during the molding operation as hereinafter described.

As stated, each marker M has a plurality of the track members II secured thereto and these may be grouped in any suitable spaced relation as desired. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, one marker section 5 is shown as having ve of the track members II secured thereto in symmetrical relation, the two track members II of equal longer length being disposed on 'the outside, a shorter track member II being centrally disposed, and the shortest track members I I being disposed between the respective sets of longer track members. It will be understood that, as regards the marker M of Fig. 2, the other marker section 5, not shown, has a corresponding number of the track members Il secured thereto in the same manner as shown.

During the molding operation, by the use of pegs as will be understood in the molding art, the track members I I are disposed and held within the mold in proper spaced relation prior to the introduction of the viscous rubber material. It results, therefore, that the rubber material forming the completed marker M coacts with the exterior surface of each half-round section I-Ia and with the lateral sections IIb to positively anchor the track members II in their respective intended positions as shown.

In accordance with the invention, the wall surface I and .the vertical wall 2 of the marker M define a chamber which is adapted -to receive a porcelain form or plug P. Although porcelain is a preferred material, it will be understood that the plug P may lbe formed from metal or other equivalent material. As shown, said plug P is snugly received in the aforesaid cham-ber of the marker M, the vertical wall surfaces ofthe marker and the plug 'being so closely engaged as to form an air-tight bond for air pressures of small magnitude. Preferably, this `air-tight bond is rendered more. ecient by providing an interior rib 2a on the vertical wall 2, Fig. 3, this rib engaging-the adjacent surface of the plug P and being compressed thereby, Fig. 1. A-s shown in Fig. l, the plug P and the marker wall surface I define a closed chamber I2 utilizable as hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. l, H represents any suitable highway and d represents a circular depression that has been formed or cut therein in any suitable manner. The highway H may be one which has previously been constructed and used and,

if so, the depression d may be chiselled, drilled or otherwise suitably formed in the concrete, maca-dam, or other material forming said highway. If, for example, the highway is one formed from concrete in process of construction, the depression d may readily be formed by the utilization of a suitable tool before the concrete material has hardened or set.

After formation of a depression d in a highway H as described above or otherwise as may be suitable, a marker M is seated in this depression as shown on 'the drawing whereupon suitable binding or sealing material s is disposed in and around the marker M as thus seated, such sealing Amaterial being leveled substantially flush with respect to the upper surface of the highway. This sealing material s may be of any suitable character. Thus, if the highway. H is formed from concrete, ythe sealing material s may be wet concrete. Or, if said highway is formed from asphalt, for example, the sealing material, preferably, is asphalt.

If desirable or suitable, the depression d may be of such depth that the lower surface of the marker M seats on the lower horizontal surf-ace of -said depression. Or, under some circumstances, a layer of wet concrete, asphalt, or equivalent may be dispose-d in the bottom of the depression d, this layer of material being of suitable thickness so that the marker M, when seated thereupon as shown in Fig. 1, rises the proper distance above the highway surface.

After the sealing material s has hardened or set, the marker M is positively retained in its intended position by ythe locking action of the set material on the bead section 3. Further, such `set material coacts with theprojecting sections 3a of the base section so as to positively prevent rotation of the marker M while seated within the depression d.

Inherently, the marker M tends to assume a position such as shown in Fig. 1. When engaged by an automobile wheel or other heavy object, the sections 5, 5 together with the knob section 4 are depressed to such extent that the upper surfaces thereof 4become approidmately flush with respect to the highway surface. In this position, the plug P, the compressed body of air in the chamber I2 and the anchoring effected by the circular wall 2 support -the upper rubber surfaces and prevent any substantial dip of the automobile wheel, or equivalent. After the latter has passed on, the rubber, by its natural resiliency, tends to return the marker structure to the position shown in Fig. 1 and this action is aided Iby the expansion of .the compressed air in the chamber I2 of the plug P.

An important feature of the present invention has reference to the protection afforded the upper rubber surfaces by the track members II. These metal members, as will be understood, pro- -tect and shield said rubber surfaces so a-s fto prevent damage thereto by the rapidly rotating or skidding wheels of automobile traflic.

In another very important respect, the track members I I serve to prevent damage to the marker M by action of snow plow blades. As well known, 'such blades are set close to the highway surface and, by reason of the power employed, object-s which project any substantial distance above said highway surface are torn away or destroyed. However, that does not happen to the markers of my invention `because the snow plow blades engage one or more of the track members II and ride therealong, the marker being depressed and then resuming its normal position in the manner described above. As appears from Fig. 1, the height `of the knob section 4 with respect to the adjacent track members II is such that the snow plow blade clears said knob section in such manner as to prevent damage thereto.

During the molding operation, it is likely that a thin film of rubber will be disposed upon the track members I I. This probably will wear away when acted upon by snow plow blades or the like so that the upper metallic surfaces of the track members II will be exposed.

In accordance with an important phase ofthe invention, al1 rubber parts of the marker M, i. e., the wall surface I, the circular wall 2,bead section 3, members 3a, knob section 4 and marker sections 5, are.`molded from viscous material t0 form a one-piece rubber structure. The rubber forming this completed structure should be of such character as will be understood to be suitable by those skilled in the art. In general, the hardness and flexibility of the rubber forming the completed marker may be comparable to the corresponding qualities of the rubber forming the casing of an automobile or truck tire.

While the invention has been described with respect to a particular preferred example which gives'satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodicatons.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A highway marker comprising a rubber structure vhaving a Wall surface adaptedto'be disposed substantially horizontally in a' highway.

a knob section upstanding from said wall surface and adapted to have light-reflecting means associated therewith, a circumferentially complete rubber wall depending from said wall surface, means cooperative with said depending wall for forming a sealed chamber therewithin, and means for anchoring said wall in the highway.

2. A highway marker comprising a rubber structure having a wall surface adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally in a highway, a circumferentially complete rubber wall depending from said wall surface, a plug fitted within said Wall and forming a closed chamber with said wall surface, and means for anchoring said wall in the highway.

3. In a highway marker, a base comprising a circumferentially complete wall adapted to be seated in the highway, an upper rubber structure normally projecting above the highway surface from said base and-adapted to be depressed when engaged by a moving object, said circumferentially complete wall and the lower surface of said upper rubber structure defining an interior chamber, means received in said chamber for closing the same, and means forming for said rubber structure a protective surface with which said moving object is adapted to engage.

4. A highway marker comprising a base adapted to be seated in the highway, said base comprising a circumferentially co-mplete wall and a horizontal section defining an interior chamber, means received in said chamber for closing the same, an upper knob section normally projecting above the highway surface from said base, said marker comprising sections having rubber surstructure having a wall surface adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally in a highway, a

knob section upstanding from said wall surface,

rubber surfaces sloping downwardly therefrom, a plurality of protective tracks embedded in said rubber surfaces and projecting toward said knob section, and means for securing said marker to the highway.

'7. A highway marker comprising a structure having a depressible wall surface adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally in a highway, a knob section upstanding from said wall surface and movable downwardly therewith when subjected to impact, a tubular rubber wall depending from said wall surface, and a plug fitted within said tubular wall and forming a closed chamber with said wall surface, said wall surface at least in the zone Where it merges into said tubular rubber wall being formed from rubber whereby said wall and knob section are depressible as specified.

THEODORE W. STEDMAN. 

